Bubble gun



N. J. LIMBER Judy 1l 7, 1951 BUBBLE GUN Filed June 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR NCHLHS J LINEE/ BYF ATTORNEY July W, 195 N. J. LIMBER 2,5%,582

BUBBLE GUN Filed June 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v INVENTOR MCHUHS J. LMBER BY MMM ATTORNEY patented July 177, 1795i UNITED- semfri-l:s;N PATE-Nr oFeFlce NicholasiJ. Limber, RoekvillefCentre, N. fY., as,

signor -toBubble Gim, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation ,Y

This finvention relates- Ato toys, and imore i par-1' ticularlyto a toy forzproducng, bubbles:

It is theprimary.objectfof' the present-invernrv tion -to provide-.a;t0y;gun or pistol 'which fires@ bubbles in response,r tov the ,actioncot a trigger.V

Itis anotherI object of the present rinvel'ition togprovide- -a -toy of ithisbcharacter with:bubbleforming mechanismgwhich isrwellhidden in a vgun :f or` pistol Vcasing so. that, Ythe 4appearance :,o they toy-does notsuggest its useasabubble blower..V-

Itis` also arnonglthe objects of the presenti-'fin-frff vention to make ,the` toy -Vfrom'fsimpla inexpen.- sivepartsywhich are readily assembled,.so,that,:` the toy-lends. itself l to rapid `mass production iat.; lowcost.

The above and otherobjectafeatures:andadas f vantagesfof-.the present invention rwill lbe fully, understood 1 from the :following ,descriptioml ,Cong sidered. .in connection with 1 the accompanying; illustrative drawingsv In the drawirnrs:l

Fig. l is alongitudinal-section through the-i3- pistol I embodying the. present invention;

Fig- 2 is an elevationalviewipartly broken away and inffseetiom A of -thevjsame pistolxshowing :the :525

35 Referringlto the drawings, andfparticul'arlyto Figs; l tod-thereof,l the reference numeralzaIIl designates a -toyA gunfor pistol whichcon'rprisespiA a casing -IZI formed to lsimulate av pistolyand'f" bubble-formingmechanism I41in thecasng I2.i40

The casing ;I2-is preferablyg formed-s oftwo-r,y complementary halves 4,or VVsections z I 6,1.' I6u whicl;hfmay vbe made' from sheet, metal. Insassernbledf relation, the sections I (i `are in edge to fedgelabutz-i menteas shown-at lI8 in Figs-. and i4.L-In;,order;. to hold 'the/:sections 716,v I6 vin ,their assembled relation, oney Vof these=sections-l6 isV preferably; provided `at-.its .edge with., spaced, rlaterally..,-eXi-.fV- tending integral tabs., 2D ,which `are passed through adjacent slots 22..in the` othersection 50 I6 and bent over in the Yfashion shown in Fig., 3. The inwardly' formed, adjacent'ends Zll ofthe sections ItV (FigJSVare provided'with comple-- mentarycut-outs-26^ which "iorm'a round dis# charge 'opening @2&2

main ff elements an I arlfblcWerr'Z @,f a 'bubble-formi 2f ing ;,ringmember;,=30,' a tank. 32 for holdingfranym; suitablessolution. 34; yiforffproducing bubbles, ,andv, a triggerielement .36 for actuatingthe bubbleg forming mechanism.; The air.vblo.wer 28 is, inzthe:

0 of a eclamp- Aiwhich embraces l the :tube Eend 142i,-

within-theficonfines of theinsertednozzle ,44 landf; is suitably secured-itopne of the sections ,-IS ,(Fig.; 3)-,` by spot weldingtior instance.` ThebulbxSe; is preferably. carried bygthe triggerelement 135:1. by, ghaving-= its-'tubular I extensionl 4D; extended .t throughzholes and 5 `iin. a strap-like rearward i: extension52;;andeanotherextension [55, respecs tively, of. the triggerfielement,35,tinsuch fashion-f,y that said tubular bextension :'40, eis bent., rather i abruptlylbetween said .openings 5Jand=,5l-. The trigger; .element L3I=gispiv,oted non la cross-min. 56W` which.- extendsy throughl the1,sections I;;II5- oft the casing I 2 and'. isx preferably rivetedLovert-.at its..ends,: thus;.further holding-V. the sections I 6,. I 6 together in their; assembled relation. Thev triggernv element. 36;` also Ihas a downward'. extensionf 58 within the; ,casing I 2on ,which the, bulb f 38ffnor-y y InallyrestsV y(Fig.,1),.

The ring member.v 30,:,whichfmaybe of theshape:Y shownin Fig-Lis preferably punched from sheet'. metallstock. The ringmember-,S is, in the-prese:--` ent. instance,-oirectangular shape having a round., aperture -63 and anY upwardly extending. shank;` E2 ,f which.. is connectedl with. Aoperating linkage to bedescribedV hereinafter. The-,ring ,member- 3E .is guided .forvertical movement in opposite.: guides Edf which are preferably in the formof..I U-sha'ped channelsfsecured t'o the sections `E 5,51 61T by spot-welding. or inany'other suitable manner.

The tank. 32`inay be madeflfrom any suitable material and assume ,any desired vshape to .flt the general' 'design of the pistoVwithout 'sugges 'i ing its use as la tankfA Th'ita'nk. 32 is mountfedi.,

on' the casing f I2"'fo'r ready' removal" therefrom."

lug 14 and relled with solution. The refilled tank 32 may readily and quickly be remounted on the casing I2 by simply hanging the tank over the lug 14 on the casing and then forcing the tank against the casing until the bead 18 snaps over the bead 80. In order to minimize or prevent splashing of the solution from the tank 32 to the outside of the casing I2 as well as to the inside thereof, the open top of the mounted tank is closed by the adjacent wall 82 of the casing |2 which is recessed at 84 just suflciently to clear the guides 64 and permit the passage of the ring member 30 to andl from the tank 32.

The operating linkage between the trigger element 36 and the ring member 30 comprises a link 86, a bell crank lever 88 and a tension spring 90. More particularly, the bell crank lever 88 is pivotally mounted on a cross p in 92 which extends through the opposite section I6 of the casing I2 and is riveted over at its ends in the fashion shown in Fig. 3. One arm of the lever 88 is hingedly connected at 94 with the shank 62 of the ring member 30, while the other arm of said lever 88 carries a laterally projecting pin 96 on which one end of the spring 90 is anchored. The other end of the spring 90 is anchored on a laterally projecting pin 98 on one end of the link 86, the other end of which is pivotally connected at with the trigger element 36. The anchor pin 96 on the lever 88 serves also as a support for the link 86 on which the same rests when the pistol is not in action. The trigger element 36 is normally urged into its forward position (Fig. 1) by means of a spring |82 which is anchored with one end on said trigger element and with the other end on a punched-out loop |84 on one of the sections |6 of the casing I2.

Fig. l shows the pistol with the bubble forming mechanism I4 in inactive position in which the ring member 30 is immersed in the solution 34 in the tank 32. In actuating the gun for shooting bubbles, the trigger element 36 is pulled or depressed inwardly, whereupon the ring member 30 is rst raised from the tank 32 (Fig. 1) to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the aperture 60 in the ring member is in operative alignment with the air discharge nozzle 44. The described ascent of the ring member 30 from the tank 32 into operative alignment with the air discharge nozzle 44 takes place during an initial part of the depression of the trigger element 36, through intermediation of the parts 86, 88 and 90, and the ring member comes to rest in its operative position when the bell crank lever 88 is conveniently stopped by the top wall |06 of the casing I2 (Fig. 2) Thereafter, and during continued depression of the trigger element 36, the fully expanded bulb 38, which has in the meantime been moved against the adjacentl end wall ||8 of the casing I2, is squeezed or partially collapsed between said end wall |I0 and the adjacent extension 58 of the trigger element (Fig. 2), whereby air is discharged from the bulb 38 through the tubular extension 40 and the discharge nozzle 44. The nozzle 44 is provided in its front wall ||4 with a multitude of perforations ||2 in order to diffuse the air so that it will sweep evenly through the ring member 30 and cause the solution adhering thereto to form a bubble or bubbles |I6 which issue from the discharge opening 26 in the casing I2 in a fashion similar to that shown in dot-anddash lines in Fig. 2.

In order that the bulb 38 may quickly recover of its own accord when the depressed, trigger 36 is released, the same is preferably made from relatively thick rubber or a similar elastic material which will recover its shape after being squeezed. The discharge opening 26 is suiciently large in diameter so as to clear a bubble or bubbles forming at the aperture 60 in the ring member 30, in order to prevent bursting of the bubbles through contact with the casing I2. The guides 64 are sufliciently wide (Fig. 3), to guide the ring member 38 upwardly and downwardly despite its hinged connection 94 with the pivotally mounted bell crank lever 88. The instant gun is repeating in action until the solution in the tank 32 is exhausted, whereupon the latter is refilled.

Fig. 5 illustrates a bubble gun or pistol which diers from that shown in Fig. l by using a bellows |28 in lieu of a collapsible bulb for creating the air charge. The bellows |28 is suitably mounted with its dicharge end in a bracket |22 which is, in turn, mounted in any suitable manner in the casing |24, the bracket |22 being constructed so as to leave the discharge end |26 of the bellows exposed. The discharge end I 26 may be a rigid disk having a multitude of perforations (not shown) which serve to diffuse the air charge as it is forced from the bellows |20. The bellows is operated by means of a crank disk |28 and a connecting rod |38 between the latter and said bellows. More particularly, one end of the connecting rod |30 is pivotally connected by means of a pin |32 with the adjacent end of the bellows |28, while the other end of the connecting rod |30 is journalled on a crank pin |34 on the disk |28. In order to compel the bellows |20 to expand and contract longitudinally, the connecting pin |32 extends with its ends into opposite guides |36 which are preferably in the form of U-shaped channels and suitably secured, as by spot welding, to the adjacent sides of the casing |24 (Fig. 6). The crank disk |28 is carried by a cross pin or shaft |38 which is rotatably mounted in the opposite side walls |31 of the casing. The crank disk |23 is spring-wound by means of a torsion spring |40 (Fig. 6) which in anchored with one end in said crank disk and with its other end in one of the side walls |31 of the casing |24. The spring |40 is prewound in the sense that it will partially unwind on counter-clockwise rotation of the crank disk-|28 (Fig. 5) through its operating range, and will be wound on opposite rotation of said crank disk. Unwinding of the crank disk |28 beyond its operating range is prevented by a pin I 44 on said crank disk which cooperates with a punched-out stop lug |46 in the casing |24. Mounted on a cross pin |48 in the casing |24 is a trigger |58, having a pawl-like extension |52 which is adapted to register with a notch |54 in the periphery of the crank disk |28 when the lat- .,ter is wound up. A spring |55 normally urges the pawl-like extension |52 of the trigger |50 against the crank disk |28. Integral with, or carried by, the crank disk |28 is a cam element |56 which cooperates with the follower end |51 of a lever |58, rotatably mounted on a cross pin |60 in the casing |24 and hngedly connected at |62 with the ring member 30. The cam element |56 is so designed and coordinated with the crank disk |28 that its crest |64 cooperates with the lever |58 in holding the ring member 30 immersed in the solution in the tank 32 when said crank disk is wound up. A spring |66 holds the lever |58 in permanent engagement with the cam element |56.

The crank disk |28 is wound up, through less than one revolution, by means of a key |68 (Fig. 6) which may have a. square4 end.. that nts into a correspondingly shaped socket |70 provided on one end of the cross pin or shaft |38 on the outside of the casing |28. The key |88 may also be formed as an integral part of the shaft |38, if so desired.

In using the pistol, the crank disk |28 is wound-up by means of the key |58 until the pawllike extension |52 of the trigger' |50 snaps into the notch |54 in said crank disk to lock the latter in its wound position (Fig. 5). In thus winding the crank disk |28, the cam element |56 actuates the lever |58 so that the same lowers the ring member 30' and immerses it in the solution in the tank 32 (Fig. 5). The pistol is now ready for action and the trigger |50 may be pulled. In doing so, the pawl-like extension |52 of the trigger is withdrawn from the notch |'5 in the crank disk |28, whereupon the latter unwinds yto the extent permitted by the pin |86 and the stop lug |46. During an initial part of the unwinding motion of the crank disk |28 in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 5, the cam element |55 permits a relatively rapid ascent of the ring member 30 from the tank 32 into operative alignment with the discharge end |28 of the bellows |20, during which time the crank pin |34 on the disk |28 passes to and beyond its remote dead center position X, with the result that the bellows |28 is relatively unaffected during this initial part of the unwinding motion of the crank disk. However, after the ring member 38 is in operative alignment with the discharge end |28 of the bellows |20, i. e., when the follower end |57 of the lever |58 rides on the concentric portion |12 of the -cam element |56, the crank disk |28 passes through the remaining part of its unwinding range in which the connecting rod |30 is rapidly advanced and the bellows accordingly compressed for the discharge of air therefrom and through the operatively aligned ring member 30 for the formation of a bubble or bubbles thereat.

Fig. 7 shows a further modified pistol in which the air blower is in the form of a cylinder |80 having a piston |82 therein. The pistol may in all other respects be like the one shown in Fig. 5, except that the connecting rod |30' is connected to the piston |82. The cylinder |80 is mounted in any suitable manner on brackets |84 which are, in turn, suitably mounted in the casing |24.

It will be understood that various changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A toy gun comprising, a casing resembling a gun and having a discharge opening and a container below said opening for holding a bubbleforming solution, means within said casing for forcing a stream of air through said opening, an apertured member within said casing lowerable into said container and raisable therefrom into the path of said air stream at said opening, and a device in said casing including an outwardly projecting trigger for successively raising said member and causing operation of said air-forcing means on the same manipulation of said trigger.

2. A toy pistol as set forth in claim 1, in which said air-forcing means is a resiliently collapsible rubber bulb, and said device partially collapses said bulb on manipulating said trigger.

3. A toy gun comprising, a casing resembling a gun and having a discharge opening and a container below said opening for holding a bubbleforming solution, means in said ycasing for forcing a stream of air through said opening, an apertured member in said casing lowerable into said container and raisable therefrom into the path of said air stream at said opening, a spring- Wound device in said casing for successively raising said member from said container and causing operation of said air-forcing means when said device unwinds, and a trigger projecting to the outside of said casing and having a latch normally holding said device in wound condition and releasing the latter when said trigger is depressed.

4. A toy pistol as set forth in claim 3, in which said air-forcing means is a bellows.

5. A toy pistol as set forth in `claim 3, in which said air-forcing means is a cylinder and a piston therein.

6. In a toy gun, a casing having the shape of a simulated gun, and being provided with an opening at the muzzle end thereof, said gun casing housing within it a container below said opening for holding a bubble-forming solution, pivoting means for forcing an air stream through said opening and lowering an apertured member in said container and raising said apertured member into the path of said air stream at said opening, and a device including an outwardly projecting trigger for successively raising said member and causing operation of said member on manipulating said trigger whereby said air forcing means operates to discharge air in delayed response to said trigger means after said raised member has been raised into the path of an air stream from said air-forcing means.

7. A toy gun as set forth in claim 6 in which said air-forcing means is a resiliently collapsible rubber bulb, and said device partially collapses said bulb on manipulating said trigger.

8. A bubble blower comprising a casing provided with an opening for the passage of bubbles therefrom, an air conduit having an opening adjacent said casing opening, said casing having a reservoir for a bubble-forming solution disposed adjacent to and below said opening of said conduit, a member mounted in said casing for movement into and out of said reservoir and provided with an opening positioned to register with said conduit opening when said member is retracted from said reservoir, an air pump for forcing air through said conduit, and a device mounted on said ycasing and operatively connected to said member for moving the latter into and out of said reservoir and concomitantly out of and into registry with said conduit opening and having an operative connection with said pump for operating the latter to expel air through said conduit in timed relation to the movement of said member into registry with said conduit opening.

NICHOLAS J. LIMBER..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 185,279 Baker et al Dec. 12, 1876 1,572,409 yOldham Feb. 9, 1926 2,170,221 Stanley Aug. 22, 1939 2,393,039 Gilchrist Jan. 15, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 366,355 Great Britain Feb. 4, 1922 

